Excavator.



M. G. BUNNELL. EXCAVATOR.

APPMGATION FILED snPT.z,19o8,

1,037,429, Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

TTaH/VEYS M. G. BUNNELL.

EXCAVATOB.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2a, 190e.

1,037,429, Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

MTA/55555 /Nx/E/YTOR:

. Mo/iTo/V CBU/WVELL,

/YTTOR'NE YS M. G. BUNNELL.

BXGAVATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1908. l

. Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WTA/5555 /A/J/E/VTOR:

/VO/F'To/V .5MM/ELL,

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORTON G. BUNNELL, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 FREDERICK C. AUSTIN, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BXCAVATOB.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Mon'ron G. BUNNELL, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Excavators, ofA which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to excavators of the general type in which a drag-line bucket is employed as the means for tearing up the ground and transferring the d1rt thus loosened from one place to another.

It relates more particularly to drag-line buckets of the kind disclosed in my prior application Serial Number 451,296, tiled September 2, 1908, and is in the nature of an improvement thereon. In my said other application the bucket is so constructed that the load is automatically dumped from the rear end thereof by the final upward pull of the hoist-line.

My resent invention, as will hereinafter more iliailly appear, consists in adapting the bucket to dump from its mouth or forward end. IVith this method the bucket is simple in form and no door or movable rear end wall is necessary for discharging the load, as in said prior application. Consequently the bucket is less liable to get out of order, and is more reliable in use.

In the accompanying drawings :.-Figure 1 is a side elevation of an excavator provided with a drag-line bucket embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the bucket shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the bucket shown 1n Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the ielding or spring-locked shoulder against w ich the bucket is hoisted to dump the load there from. Fig. 5 is a plan of the bucket shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 1s a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the bucket in the act of dumping the load therefrom, being partially tilted or turned about its axis, the full range of movement being sufficient to bring the mouth of the bucket below and into position to freely discharge the contents thereof.

As thus illustrated, the excavator comprises a body A mounted on trucks or devices B for enablingk the machine to move along. At its forward end the body of the machine is provided with a turn table or reversing circle C upon which is mounted the mast D. This mast, it will be seen, has its ythe machine and driven b upper end swiveled to a rigid upright frame E that is mounted on the platform'orbody portion of the machine. To the base or lower end of said mast a swinging boom F is secured in such manner that it can be adjusted up and down, so as to vary the height to which the bucket is elevated for dumping. At its outer endthe said boom is equipped with ay sheave f, and the mast has a similar sheave alV at its upper end; and around these sheaves is arranged a raising and lowering rope or cable G which has one end secured at g to the block of the sheave f and the other end brought down and wound iipon the drum or cylinderof a hand winch which latter is mounted on the mast. The said boom is provided with another sheave f at its outer end and the mast is provided at its base with a sheave d; and upon these two sheaves is supported the hoist-line I which carries the bucket J. The said hoist-line extends downwardly and around a sheave z' mounted on the bod of the machine, and thence back to one o the drums K which are mounted at the rear of the engine k. The usual drag-line L is sultably secured to the bucket and then brought back into engagement with guiding sheaves carried by the forward structure of the bod-y A, and thence rearward to one of the drums K, as illustrated. Another rope or cable M is applied to the circumference of the turn table or reversing circle C, and is operated by another o the drums K, whereby the mast and the boom carrying the bucket can be swung from one side to the other, so as to dischar e the load at either side of the machine. t will be understood that the said ropes or cables and the drums for operating them canbe controlled in any suitable man ner, whereby the operator will have full control of the operations of thebucket. The said bucket J is preferably formed with an open mouth or front end j, a closed rear end j, and an o en top jz. A bail 's has its lower ends plvoted at y" to the si es of the bucket, so that the axis about which the latter tilts is nearer its forward end than its rear end. A chain or other tiexible connection j connects the rear end of the bucket with the top or cross bar j of the said bail, whereby the we' ht. of the bucket tends to hold it in uprig t or loading position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower edge of the mouth of the bucket has a cutting ed e 77 which enables the bucket to cut into t e ground and more effectively gather a full vload of dirt. The drag-line L is preferably secured by chains or other flexible connections js to the side bars j of the bucket, thus giving the desired pull or line of draft necessary for properl loading the bucket as it is dragged along t e ground. y

At its forward end the bucket has a bailshaped member j, the lower ends of which latter are pivoted at j vto the forward upper corners of the bucket, in the manner shown. To the middle of the upper cross bar j of this bail there is secured a bracket j upon which are mounted theguide rolls j, which latter engage the hoist-line. It will be seen that the said hoist-line is secured to the middle portion of the cross bar j of the lifting or carrying bail js, and that it then extends upwardly in a straight line to the sheave on theend of the boom. In so doing it passes through the yielding or spring bucket stop device N that 1s pivotally mounted on t-he end of the boom. Within this device N there is provided a hollow plunger or movable stop member n. whicli is provided with a bore or longitudinal passage n. through which extends the said hoist-line. This member n is provided with a shoulder n?, and the casing or body n of the said device is made hollow and provided with a shoulder n. Between these two shoulders there is interposed a coil spring When the bucket is brought to the position desired for dumping, a slight upward pull on the hoist-line I then vcauses the bracket j to engage the lower end of the stop member n, the contact being cushioned by the spring n", thus avoiding shock or breakage. The continued pull on the hoist-line causes the bucket to rise, but inasmuch as the bailshaped member j has at such time reached the limit of its upward movement, it follows that the forward end of the bucket will be depressed, in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The construction is preferably such that this actlon can continue until the bucket is coinpletely upset and its rear end brought above and its mouth below, the width of the bails j and j being sufficient to permit this tilting or oscillating motion of the bucket. When this is done, the load is discharged by gravity from the bucket, and as soon as the in the drawings.

hoist-line is slacked off the bucket begins to assume its normal or horizontal position, by reason of the fact that its rear end is heavier than its forward end, so that it assumes the position shown in Fig. 2, in which condition it is in shape to again be dragged along the ground for the purpose of getting another load. This operationis repeated until the desired extent of excavation is accomplished.

Thus it will be seen that I provide a hoistline which has a straight or direct connection to the top of the bucket-that is to say, which extends in'a straight line from the boom to the bucket, which hoist -line is available as a means for automatically dumping the load from the mouth or front end of the bucket. In other words, the final pull on the hoist-line is sufficient to automatically dump the load from the mouth or open forward end of the bucket. In this way no doors or movable walls are necessary for the bucket. Such mouth also obviates the necessity of using latches or locks or tripping devices for releasing the bucket when it is desired to dump the load. With my improved arrangement the weight of the load is sufficient to maintain the load in carrying position, and the dumping is accomplished by simply depressing the forward end of the bucket by the final pull on the hoist-line.

As a matter of further and special improvement, the chain j has an adjustable connection with the bucket, and is preferably a little longer than is necessary to hold the bucket in a horizontal position, as shown With this arrangement the point of attachment of the bucket to the chain can be varied along the length of the latter, so as to hold the bucket in different positions, depending, upon the character of the work. For clay and other kinds of soil, the bucket can be raised in a substantially horizontal position, in the manner shown. When working in sand, however, or loose gravel or other similar soil, it is then found preferable to lower the rear end of the buckettso that it may be hoisted in a tilted o r inclined position, the angle being suflicient to prevent the sand or gravel from spilling out of the mouth of the bucket. Thus. the angle of the bucket can be varied to suit different requirements.

What I claim as my invention is 1. An excavator comprising a drag-line bucket provided with a drag line operated by a drum, a hoist-line, the bucket being left free to tilt while rising, and means operated .by the final upward movement of said hoist-line, carried on the bucket, for depressin the mouth of the bucket to dump the loa therefrom.

2. A n excavator comprising a drag-line bucket provided with a. hoist-line, an eleservin ,1 by the'l finalupward'gmovemen thehoxst-line, "to depress thef mouth same to" dump the loadktl iere froin 8. An .excavator compris1ng u bucket provided 'wltllahoistflinm 'fan `-Ve115 ment pivoted on the`front;;of saidf",bucket and en gaginvr vsaid line 'a-stop for. engaging.' the u perentd of saidje ementto depressthemonti-i of the bucket, andi inefansffor operatf ment pivotedon the` front ofthe bucket and ing said linefto hoist the'bucket.land

. line, carried-on the bucket, for depressin a the mouth of. the bucket to dump the'loa therefrom.'`

6. An excavatorcom rising a Vdrag-linel bucket provided with a oistine, aliftin or supporting vbailjfor .the'bucket,` to whc the hoistJline is'attached, a dumpingV bailpivoted-"on the. front [of the bucket,.and` means forehgagingthe' up er end-'of-lthe dumpingvbailfor causingt e same-jto,de`

f press the mouthfof the bucket-to dump the cad therefrom. A

7. An excavator comprising a pivoted, drag-line bucket a tiexib e .support fori'the rear end of said bucket, a `I ioist-line connected with the pivots'ofjthebucket', and4 with said fiexible support, an element pivote'd on the front of said bucket, and means for engaging the upper end of said element to depress the mouth of the bucket I.and dump the load therefrom.4

8. An excavator'comprisin 'a'.drag-line bucket provided with n. dragi by a drum, a hoist-line extendin strai ht. downward thereto, the bucket eingy eft free to tilt while rising, and means located partly on the bucket and' partly above the same, for depressing the mouth of the bucket to dump the load therefrom.

9. An excavator com rising a drag-line bucket provided with a iioist-lme, means on the bucket operated by the final lupward movement of said hoist-line, for de ressin the mouth of the bucket to dump he loa therefrom, and devices for varying the angle of-thefbucket, disposed at the rear.v thereof, as setforth.

10. 'An excavator comprising ajdragslin'e'" bucket provided `with ya hoist-line, an' ele;

lment of the hoist-line, for depressin mouth 'of the bucket to dump the load t 1ere- Afrom",'and devices for supporting the rear of ne Voperated on the bucket; 'ad'serving by vand;'engaging said line vva stop for en aging 'the-upperend of sai element to epress the mouth of the bucket, means vfor operating-saidlineto hoist the-bucketl and .cause thesaid element to engage said stop, and de- 'vi ces.for varying the angle'of the bucket.

12.1,An1 excavator comprisin lbucketprovded with a hoistme, a yielda drag-line ingy stop 'at the line, means on the bucket vfor engaging said stop to tilt the bucket and dumpthe load therefrom, and devices for val'yllnnthe angle of the bucket. .18 excavator com risin a drag-line bucket rovided with a. oist-lme having a straigh y connection thereto means on the bucket operated by the final upward mowetie the'bucket, for varylngthe angle of the bucket.

' "T 141115.11" excavator com risin a drag-line bucketlprovided with a oistme, a lifting ory supporting bail for the bucket, to which the" ho1st-line1is attached, a dumping bail ivoted on the front of the bucket, means or'engaging the uplper end of the dumping handlers-causing t e same to depress the moutbqf the-bucket todump the load therefrom, ,and=devices for varying the angle of the bucket.,` l

15.`A'n`,excavator com rising a pivoted drag-line bucket a fiexib e support for the rear end of said bucket, a hoist-line connected with the pivots of the bucket, and with'seid' liexible support, an element pivoted lonthejfront of said bucket, means for .engagin -th'euppxr endI of said element to depress. he' mout oflthe bucket and dump lthe load therefrom, and devices for varying the 'an lejcf thebucket.,

'16,.- excavatorcomprisin a drag-line bucket provided with `a hoist-line extending straightvl downward thereto means for depressm the mouth of the bucket to dump the loa therefrom, carried at the front of the bucket, and devices for varying the angle 'of the bucket, carried at the rear thereof.

Sigined by me at Chica o, Illinois, this 21st. ay of Se tember190 ORTON G. BUNNELL.

- Gusanos E.' Tarma,

Qoplel .et this patent may4 be obtllnledw'fkonn ouit'|,|`le1i, addressing the "Commissioner of retenu, 

